Urban Taskforce boss says NSW Government’s affordable housing plan has exposed NIMBY councils

One of the state’s biggest developer lobby groups has claimed backlash to the NSW Government’s affordable housing incentive plan exposed inner city councils as putting its ‘NIMBY’ concerns above the housing crisis.

Pictured: Chief Executive at Urban Taskforce, Tom Forrest.

A top boss representing developers across the country has claimed council backlash to the NSW Labor Government’s affordable housing incentives showed those councils put ‘NIMBY’ concerns above solving the housing crisis.

NSW Premier Chris Minns recently announced changes to fast-track approvals for housing developments valued at $75m and above which also include 15 per cent affordable housing.

Developments that qualify will get access to a “state significant development” pathway that would fast-track approvals, as well as a bonus 30 per cent height and floor space extension.

Tom Forrest, chief executive of developer lobby group Urban Taskforce, said opposition to the move by inner city councils revealed why the state government had further increased provisions enabling developers to bypass local planning authorities.

“The practical reality is the reason those councils are opposing is not because there’s not enough affordable housing [in the incentives],” Mr Forrest said.

Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest. Picture: David Swift

“It’s simply because they don’t want to change the character of their local suburb,” he said.

“They’re concerned about adding five minutes commute time to their already luxuriously short commute”.

Wealthy inner city councils have claimed the new incentives will benefit developers without improving housing affordability. Picture: NSW Real Estate.

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: Adam Yip.

Mr Forrest suggested the Minns government had put the initial value of projects that could be fast-tracked at $75m was to ensure the state government was the ultimate decision maker.

“I think that was a deliberate move, taken by the government to push through the NIMBY attitude that has dominated the eastern suburbs and North Shore councils,” he said.

Some of Sydney’s major developers have already indicated they will take up the affordable housing provision – classified under NSW regulations as dwelling offered at around 20-25 per cent below the market rate – for projects under consideration.

Meriton managing director Harry Triguboff said he would consider the new planning rules for Meriton developments.

Harry Triguboff, founder and managing director of Meriton. Picture: James Horan.

“We are very happy that Premier Minns wants to do it and we want these rules to apply to all existing development applications too,” Mr Triguboff said.

Urbis planning director Ashleigh Ryan said the 30 per cent floor space and building height bonus would incentivise developers to deliver substantial affordable housing where other initiatives had failed.

“[The plan] recognises that for the private sector to deliver more affordable housing and in large projects under the existing planning system, subsidy or uplift is required,” she said.

Mr Minns has vowed to stand up to local councils, telling Ben Fordham on 2GB on Monday he was prepared to fight opposition to Labor’s first major reform to address the housing affordability crisis.

“People are leaving Sydney, particularly young people going to other jurisdictions because of cheaper housing … one of the leading conditions of that is supply,” Mr Minns said.

“I have to make decisions to increase supply across the metropolitan area. If that means taking on the fight with councils, that’s what we’ll do.”